Check out ranks 31-40 in the Hotelier Middle East Power 50 2017

Hotelier Middle East has revealed its 2017 edition of the Power 50 List, and in conjunction with the special issue of the September 2017 edition, has also launched a dedicated micro-site for the feature.

Here's a snapshot of the hoteliers who made it to ranks 31-40 - to read the full entries, head over to the micro-site.

Until then, watch a video of our round-up of the list... 

31. Hussein Ali Hatata, vice president, hospitality division, Al Khozama Management Company

In 2016, Hussein Ali Hatata and his team opened Al Khozama’s first resort property, Al Faisaliah Resort & Spa. Later, in May 2017, according to sister publication, Construction Week, Al Khozama Management Company appointed global contractor Selini Impregilo to handle the US $293m redevelopment of Al Faisaliah Centre, which encompasses extensive renovations to Al Faisaliah shopping mall, Al Faisaliah Hotel, and Al Faisaliah Suites, and will include the construction of a five-star Al Khozama Hotel, expected to open in 2018.

32. Marc Dardenne, group chief operating officer and Interim CEO, Jumeirah Group

There has been, as with last year, a shake-up in Jumeirah Group. In February 2016, the home-grown operator appointed Stefan Leser as CEO, but he left in May of this year citing “purely personal” reasons. Since then, Jumeirah has released a statement revealing that “a search for Stefan’s replacement has been initiated and, in the meantime, Marc Dardenne, Jumeirah Group’s chief operating officer, will run the business, working closely with Dubai Holding CEO, Edris Al Rafi”.

33. Siegfried Nierhaus, vice president Middle East, Deutsche Hospitality

Siegfried Nierhaus has a tough job to tackle as the German luxury hotel operator, Deutsche Hospitality, makes ready with its plans to expose its entire brand portfolio in key cities across the Middle East and North Africa.

34. Rob Weeden, vice president sales and marketing Europe, Middle East, and Africa, Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts

In the Middle East region, Shangri-La has been fairly quiet over the past year, with no new active additions to the regional pipeline. The anticipated opening of Shangri-La Hotel, Jeddah has been postponed from a 2018 to a 2019 opening. However, the last 12 months have seen Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai complete a AED 70m (US $19m) renovation. Meanwhile, in Muscat, Oman, Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa spun off the adjacent 180-key Shangri-La Al Husn Resort & Spa and closed the property for major refurbishments.

35. Kamal Fakhoury, chief executive officer, Cristal Group

The group operates five properties in the Middle East and North Africa currently, and plans to manage seven more in the coming years. With 894 rooms currently in hand, Cristal intends to add significantly to that number – 1,780 more keys are planned.

36. Nehme Imad, Darwiche founder and CEO,  Jannah Hotels & Resorts

In May 2017, Jannah Hotels & Resorts announced it would build and operate Sharjah’s tallest tower, Jannah Ras Al Khor. Nehme Imad Darwiche was quoted as saying that the tower would span 57 floors and comprise a mall, offices, a luxury hotel, deluxe residential options, and dining outlets.

37. Mohamed Soussan, group general manager, Ayla Hotels & Resorts

Ayla Hotels & Resorts is on track with expansion plans outside the UAE, with openings in Djibouti and Ibri, Oman, due within the next 12 months.

38. Simon Coombs, president and CEO, Shaza Hotels

In contrast to 2016, UAE-based Shaza Hotels has been keeping a lower profile this year. Only a year ago, the independent five-star operator revealed a slew of expansion plans in the region. President and CEO, Simon Coombs, informed Hotelier of the company’s intention to open three or four hotels from 2017 onwards.

39. Suparat Chirathivat, vice president business development, Centara Hotels & Resorts

Suparat Chirathivat has been busy with the signing of a joint venture agreement with Nakheel to develop a 550-key resort on Deira Islands in Dubai, and opened the Centara Muscat Hotel. 

40. David Grant Thomson, chief operating officer, JA Resorts & Hotels

While the group’s number of operating hotels in the Middle East and Africa has remained flat at five, two of the properties in the UAE, JA Hatta Fort Hotel and JA Jebel Ali Golf Resort, have undergone modernisation and expansion in the last year. The company has also added two properties to its Middle East pipeline – a 350-key property and a 20-villa property. The proposed location and other details of these new additions are yet to be announced, however.